A Study On The Literariness Of Liszt’s "Faust Symphony"

On the basis of literature, the author explores the literariness reflected in A Faust Symphony composited by Franz Liszt by considering the relationship between literature and music as well as the interaction between them in the period of Romanticism. Faust, with various personal traits and artistic images, is beloved by many artists in different eras. A Faust Symphony is not only the combination of the art in literature and music, but also the masterpiece on Liszt’s symphony. What’s more, it is unique in the interpretation of Faust. The author explores the symphony from materials, structures and characters. Specifically, the author dissects the literariness in Liszt’s composition by relying on the reference relevant theories from literature and music, the source of Goethe’s Faust and the standard of Liszt’s A Faust Symphony.The thesis includes four parts. In the first part, the author makes a brief interpretation on literariness on the basis of scholars at home and abroad from the point of literary theory. In the second and third parts, the author makes a solid foundation for the thesis by discussing the development and interaction between literature and music in the era of romantic period. In the fourth part, the core of the thesis, the author makes a further interpretation on the literariness of music through showing artistic charm contained in Liszt’s A Faust Symphony. Lastly, the author, making a brief summary in conclusion, hopes this thesis contributes to further research on the same study, thus enriching literariness in musical works.